Coaching Staff
Crystee Ballard, Head Coach: "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard."
Coach Crystee Ballard has been involved in competitive swimming and coaching for more than 30 years. She has achieved recognition as a Level III ASCA certified coach and has coached swimmers that have qualified for YMCA Nationals, USA Junior Nationals, USA Nationals, and USA Olympic Trials.
Crystee is a SPY Alumna and went on to swim for Division 1 Towson State University. She spent one year working with the University of Maryland Swim Team while working on her master’s degree and spent three summers coaching at the University of Michigan's summer swim camps.
When Crystee is not coaching she enjoys running, biking, standup paddle boarding, and spending time with her husband Nat and their 3 girls (especially at the beach!). Crystee has been coaching at SPY for more than 18 years and has been Head Coach since 2005.
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Richard Heim, Head Assistant Coach : "Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try".
Coach Richard has been involved in competitive swimming for 25 years as both an athlete and as a coach. Richard swam on SPY for 9 years until 2001 and has been coaching since 2005. He is currently certified as a Level III ASCA coach.
Since 2006, Coach Richard has also been the head coach for Oakleigh Forest Swim Team in the summer and has led them to many East Severna Park League Championships over the past 15 years. He has also previously coached for Evergreen and Shipley's Choice during the summer.
Richard is a graduate of the University of Virginia (Go Cavs!) with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and works in Baltimore as an engineer, where he recently received his Professional Engineers License. When Richard isn't engineering or coaching, he enjoys spending time with his family and traveling.
Laura Ainsworth, Assistant Coach: "Not having a goal is more to be feared than not reaching one".
Coach Laura has been involved with competitive swimming for over 30 years. Laura is the Head Coach of Harting Farms Swim Team and most recently assisted in coaching Chesapeake High School Swimming.
Laura's passion is swimming and mentoring young athletes. As an athlete, she received many All State and All American certificates on the High School and collegiate level. While attending Shepherd University, she became the NAIA National Champion in the 1650 freestyle. Her involvement in the sport continues with coaching and officiating at swim meets.
Laura lives in Annapolis with her husband and two children. When Laura is not on the pool deck, she enjoys spending time her family and supporting her twins, who are also competitive swimmers.
Cassie Mann, Assistant Coach: "Push yourself, because no one else is going to do it for you."
Coach Cassie was a SPY swimmer for 7 years, and she is so excited to be back with the team!
In addition to swimming for SPY, Cassie was a four-year varsity swimmer and captain for St. Mary’s High School in Annapolis and helped lead the team to an undefeated season and IAAM B Conference title in 2015. She went on to swim D1 at Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, MD. She swam sprint freestyle events (50, 100, 200) and was a Northeast Conference (NEC) finalist in the 200 free.
Cassie graduated from the Mount in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in Communication. She works at a global recruiting company in internal communication and executive strategy. When not working, Cassie loves cheering for the Baltimore sports teams, running, reading, and spending time at the beach with her family.
Katie Parker, Assistant Coach: "Strenghth does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will."
Coach Katie was a SPY swimmer for 9 years. With SPY, she was a YMCA Short Course and Long Course qualifier and finalist. After SPY, she swam Division I at James Madison University. All 4 years at JMU, she was a Colonial Athletic Association championship swimmer; winning the 200 IM her sophomore season, and making podium in both breaststroke events as well as the 400 IM. The cherry on top of her collegiate career was a team championship in the CAA.
After finishing undergrad in 2018, she returned to JMU for grad school and had the opportunity to be the graduate assistant on deck with JMUSD.
Katie graduated with a Masters degree in Elementary Education in the spring of 2019.
Now, she teaches in AACPS, coaches the NCA summer team, and lives in Baltimore City. When she’s not coaching or teaching, Katie is probably spending time with her dog and her husband, watching the Ravens, or hanging out with her mom and siblings.
Aimee Neal, Assistant Coach: “Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.”
Kylee Emrich, Assistant Coach: "Never believe anyone who tells you that you don't deserve what you want"
Coach Kylee swam competitively for six years with the SPY swim team and four years on the Severna Park High School Swim Team. Her favorite events included the 50 freestyle, 100 butterfly, and 200 butterfly. Although she chose not to swim beyond high school, she has remained involved in the sport through the Oakleigh Forest Swim. For the past 6 summers she has enjoyed coaching and teaching lessons.
Kylee is currently pursuing a degree in forensic science and biology at Loyola University Maryland, with an expected graduation in 2026. Outside of coaching and academics, she enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time at the beach.
